Note the use of the adjective poor to describe Bob Cratchit. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.'. Refine any search. With in-depth analysis, this video aims. I am not the man I was', When Scrooge sees the name on the gravestone, he realises that time for change is limited, The ghost of Christmas past shows Scrooge some memories that may have been lost to time, Stave 2: 'each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long forgotten', Stave 4: 'Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only? Stave 5 - pathetic fallacy However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooge's character and add backstory. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. No, Spirit! Scrooge's language has been formal and official: here he is informal, natural and joyous. Stave 4 - About Scrooge's grave: He spreads joy over all like a force of nature. He stopped at the outer door to bestow the greetings of the season on the clerk, who, cold as he was, was warmer than Scrooge. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! * The use of pathetic fallacy shows that he is in direct opposition to anyone who tries to help him. "Crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light." Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, this ghost is much less scary than Marley which symbolises the innocence of childhood. Dickens' use of the word 'good' repetitively to demonstrate the juxtaposition between Scrooge at the beginning of the novel, where Dickens describes Scrooge as a 'covetous old sinner'. I am not the man I was. A Christmas Carol Key Quotes and Analysis - chegg.com However, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. You are changed. Click the card to flip Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by AIC-CREATOR-TD Terms in this set (36) Stave 1 - description of Marley's ghost The dying fire at the beginning of the novel symbolizes Scrooges lack of either. Dickens clearly uses them to represent what employment should be like. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A Christmas Carol - Stave 3 Key Quotes Flashcards | Quizlet This quote from Fred shows him having opposing views to his uncle scrooge, Fred tries to make Scrooge someone who enjoys christmas however it is not him that makes scrooge appreciate it. This means that Scrooge is implying Christmas was designed to trick and fool people into spending money. Inclusive now of society - not isolated and solitary. If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. No Way- he tells them that the poor should go and die then there would be less people in the world. "Quite alone in the world, I do believe.". In what ways does the text indicate lbn Batutta's social status? All rights reserved. Contrasting similes emphasise his god like figure- he is at once innocent and knowledgeable. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and. Ghost of Christmas Present, Stave 3, he warns that if Scrooge doesn't change himself that "doom" will be in his future. Stave one About Scrooge: "As solitary as an oyster." "External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge." "If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." "Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it." "Cherry cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears.". By the time he reaches the third ghost The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come he orders the ghost, using the imperative phrase Lead on! He is in control now, and wants the change desperately enough to be forceful about it. This is evident in his early relationship with his nephew Fred. The gothic was a popular genre in the Victorian age and would have seemed fitting for a ghost story to Victorian readers. What are some key quotes from A Christmas Carol explained? God save you! Gives the impression of a festive being, full of Christmas spirit. Scrooge's grave, by comparison to Tiny Tim's is 'overrun by weeds'. ". Dickens believed in collective responsibility - that the wealthy should take responsibility for helping the poor, specifically through the provision of education and support for children. It has harsh imagery and the symbolism of cold, shows he is lacking Christmas spirit. The idea that anybody would be so callous about the dead is quite jarring and would have been especially impactful with a conservative Victorian readership. in Its progressive form. 'He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. The key theme for Dickens is that money does not lead to happiness, Greed is the single factor that is responsible for the breakup of Scrooge's marriage, 'Another idol has displaced me a golden one', Stave 2: 'The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune', The Cratchit family are used as a depiction of a family in poverty, More than any other time in history there was a huge divide between classes, the lower classes lived in deperate poverty and were in want while the upper classes enjoyed a life of luxury, Stave 1: 'Many thousands are in want of common necessities, sir and many hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts', Scrooge's staff selling off his old goods, Victorian aristocracy were very keen to remain ignorant about the sufferings of the poor. Marley haunts scrooge- a description of his chains. The fog has lifted and Scrooge can 'see' the truth. Below one can explore the themes, symbols, and more that appear throughout the novel. The Christmas Spirit By Section Stave One: Marley's Ghost Stave Two: The First of the Three Spirits Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits Stave Five: The End of It By Character Ebenezer Scrooge Bob Cratchit Fred Jacob Marley The Ghost of Christmas Past The Ghost of Christmas Present Throughout the book, Dickens makes use of metaphors, personification, imagery, and more. This is to illustrate to the rich that they can be part of the solution, Dickens was of the belief that things in society could change and this was something he wished to portray to people to ensure they didn't lose hope, Stave 2: 'I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now', Stave 4: 'Fear you more than any other spectre I have seen. The image of the oyster is almost perfect for Scrooge at this stage in the book. Stave 3 - ignorance and want ffects the change, pulling the curtains aside with his own hand. By this stage, Scrooge has already begun to see the error of his ways and has realised that he will benefit from the messages he is receiving and so he begins to take agency over the situation. How to revise from this guide You should be spending at least 30-60 minutes a week revising for English Literature from this point onwards, aiming to learn 5-7 key quotes for each character. They are likely to be of even higher class than Scrooge but are choosing to do good for the poor. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late This quote shows Ebenezer Scrooge's miserly, miserable attitude toward Christmas at the opening of the story; he is obsessed with his money and has no time for festivities, family, or joy. Leading up to this moment it appears as if Scrooge already fears that this is the case, but that does not detract from the tension that Charles Dickens can create here. Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. Perhaps Dickens is using him to represent the idea of childhood innocence and how close children were to God in order to reinforce his message that the wealthy need to do more to mitigate childhood poverty. Seven Years 3. Belle "Our contract is an old one. Copyright2007 - 2023 Revision World Networks Ltd. Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas. This is a great description, wanders around holding a candle snuffer that looks like a hat. The verbs suggest age, disfiguration and pain suggesting how unnatural their conditions are that have led to this. Whereas the line about being solitary as an oyster suggests that Scrooge refuses to let anybody into his life. This compounds our sympathy for the Cratchit's as Tim was a symbol of innocence. The word 'business' reflects Scrooge's earlier response to the portly gentlemen. however, her reference to their father suggests that he had not been kind in the past, thus reinforcing our sympathy. With key quotes \u0026 analysis, this video provides an ideal format to gain a greater understanding of this novella in a matter of minutes. The ghost of christmas present is showing the two children that hide in his cloak and he says that the problems these children portray are the problems of mankind. We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. As we will later learn, his bitterness originates at Christmas time and has warped his perspective of it. It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. 5 Quotes You Can Use To Analyse Poverty In A Christmas Carol Marley tells scrooge he is responsible fro his punishment- he is suffering the consequences for his actions. The metaphor shows he is rigid in his unfeeling behaviour to others. The adjective 'brave' suggests that the Cratchit's approach to life is noble and admirable - but not easy. When it was made you were another man. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. The Fezziwigs throw a party and treat everyone the same - no matter their status. Oh! Dickens creates sympathy for the poor, through the Crachit's and their tight knit family. A Christmas Carol Key Quotes and Analysis. ", cynical- "what's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money", Isolated- "secret and self-contained, and solitary like an oyster. The ghost is dressed in green reminiscent both of the Green Man from Pagan mythology, and also the traditional character of St Nicholas or Father Christmas, who has more recently come to symbolise the holiday period. A Christmas Carol Quotes | Course Hero For characters like Fred and Bob Cratchit, Christmas represents the Christian ideal of goodness and moral prosperity, but Scrooge is at his most miserly when Christmas is mentioned. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. "The cold within him froze his old features", Early description of scrooge. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. The speaker is clearly fed up with Scrooges behaviour and wants him to get to the end of his journey and realize his mistakes as soon as possible. Though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it! No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, the holly symbolises Christmas. Lord bless me!" Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds. ``Are there no workhouses? The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs. Themes= greed and generosity/ time. These morally repugnant, ugly people are simply treating Scrooge the way he treated others and he is horrified. It also explains why he becomes hard and sharp like a flint, later on. It would have done you good to see how green a place it is.". A description of the ghost of Christmas past, who symbolises memory and who shows scrooge events from the past. There is a very real suggestion that Scrooge knows that the people are describing him.